Werenski Wins Norris Trophy
6/2/2026 2:21:00 PM | Ice Hockey
NEW YORK -- Former University of Michigan ice hockey player Zach Werenski won the 2026 James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top defenseman, the NHL announced on Tuesday (June 2).
Werenski is the second Wolverine to win the honor in the last three years, joining Quinn Hughes, who won in 2024.
In his 10th season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Werenski is the organization's all-time leader in goals, assists and points by a defenseman. An alternate captain since 2021, Werenski was a finalist for the Norris in 2025 and a finalist for the Calder in 2017.
This year, Werenski led all NHL defensemen in even-strength goals (18) and shots (260), was second in points (81), even-strength points (59), average time on ice (26:37), and was third in goals (22) and fourth in assists (59). He tied the single-season franchise record for assists, matching his total from last year and Artemi Panarin in 2018-19 and became the 10th defenseman in NHL history to lead his team in scoring in back-to-back seasons. During the season, Werenski had a career-best nine-game point streak (two goals, 11 assists, 13 points) while the Blue Jackets went on a 20-3-4 run.
The eighth overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft by Columbus, Werenski made his NHL debut on Oct. 13, 2016, after two seasons with the Wolverines.
A first-team All-American at Michigan, Werenski was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore after leading the league and placing second nationally in scoring with 36 points in 36 games. A two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, Werenski led the conference's blueliners in goals as a rookie, totaling 25 points in 35 games.
Werenski won a gold medal at this year's Olympic Games, won gold at the 2025 World Championships, bronze at the 2016 World Juniors and gold at the 2014 U17 Hockey Challenge.
